Can holder



Aug. 24, 1954 MAN 2,687,248

CAN HOLDER Filed Nov. 15. 1950 Patented Aug. 24, 1954 "CAN HOLDER l'ilzmde cummins Freeman, Fort Worth, Tex.,-"-asi signer "to fiontaiuer Corporation ofiAmerica,

Chicago; I'll.,- '-a oorporatiorrrofrhelaware mplmetion november 15, 1950,"SeriafNOII95853 7' Claims. #1 "The I present P invention relates to a one-piece GOIIaJpSi bIe can i holderand is --pa'rtieularly oen- '-cernedwith a paperboard aoan holder that is adapted to hold --'at 1 least P two eans -of different sizes in'a m litary package,

5 It is :an obj act or this invention to provide a simple -inexpensive glued lolan'l: "that may "be shipped in Iflat:eondition -arrdrzmayi:beieasily and quickly set: no to hold-a row" off-atleast two: cans of di fferentsizes.

iIt is-a further objreotofthisimvention to provide aiean hol'der having; Sitstop: and: bottom surfaces parallel, fevenithough-the. cans? packaged" therein arerofxdiiierent heightsi 'and constructed'as to .ptovidexsuiiicient rigidity to lpermit a-lplurality of the zpackage'd 1 units .to "be stacked uniform-1y avithout damage to any of the. can'holders.

other and further -ob j-ects andaclvantages of the invention will becomevapparent upon: reading the -following description,.- taken: inconjunctionwith the accompanying drawing-sl'lovvi-ng 'a preferred illustrative embodiment: of i the l invention; in -which:

Fig. -l is a perspective-view'oba can holder embodying the invention, showing the holder applied to-at pair of cans of d-i-iierentsizes *Fig. :2 is --a perspeoti-vaview similar to Fig. l, with the cans: removed 1 and.- show-ing the canretain-ingfiaps interiorly. of the: holderi-n dotted lines;

--Fig. 3-is amend-elevation of the'can holder with the cans removed;

Fig. e isa cross seotionalv-iew, taken generally along. t-he-line-'4-4 of.F-ig..3, but showing the cans in dotted lines ;v

Fig. 5 is-a perspective'view otthecan holder in open set-up position with i the can-retaining flaps extended;

Fig. 6 is a plan view-of the'blankifmm whioh the canholder is made and Fig. isan elevational. View showing thehblder in collapsedfiat coriditionfor shipment.

Pteferring :to the .Ydrawings, 1 the reference numetal '2 -indicates .a itop wall vpanel hemng a sidewall panel textend-ing. from. one edgethereof and another side \x all panelv A exteridingifrom the opposite edge thereof. 'Aitol'dilinej extends between top wallv panel Z and side' wall. paneL -3, and- -another' fold lineI BL extends .between' the top wallipanelland side wall panel '4. It willibe notedthat the ioldl lines'lfi and. 6' are not, parallel to -:each -other. -This/arrangementis to make thetop wall wider at one end' than at? the other to reoeive-acan' L of larger 'diameter'. than the. can 8-seeurdin' the other end. dfthe canholder. if'bo'th cans'to be packaged in'theholder are Of thesame-'diameterffold lineS S-"and fi-will -be for-mdalong parallel lines so tl-iat thecan holder will "be of uniform-width.

a -long line I Band t-he Ffl'a'p M isIfolda-ble along line it, :Flap l dtis' largeritha'n flapv 1:3 because ini the illustrated'iembodiment" can 1' has: a' 'largerv diameterthamcant.

Thet top' wall panel: 21 has'a can-retaining flap ll extending from one :end. rFlap Ibis-the same size 'as *fiap t4 and. is ioldableialonguline l8.

Flaps M andrll are positioned*"atcorrespond- :i ng' ends "of topand bottom wall panels ll'r and I2, respectively, and "cooperate toengage: the inner portion of 'the' flan'ges l9-=and-20-or chimesof can "I to hold-the can *securely in .the holder. The ca-n maiybe inserted intothe holder easily with the flaps l4 and I1 foldedinwardly against theinner-surfaces of bottom wallpanel 10 and top wallpane'l'2,-respective1y. However, the resilience of the -paperboard from which the holder is made gives the fiaps-a-tendencyto spring away from thettop and bottom "walls so that after the= can has loeen inserted far enough to allow .the. flanges l9 and- 20 to clear the :edges 2| .aneszz of the-flapsld-and l'l, respectively, any attemptto remove the can Twill cause the flanges to engage and abut against'theedges of the flaps, .In'the em-bodimentlillustrated, the edges 2 l' and 22 are shaped arcuately to conform to the flange of the can I, but other shapes may be employed which similarly engage the can flanges. Accordingly, it is impossible for the can 1' to'become accidently displaced fromthe can holder.

The. end of the "can holder oppositetheflaps l4 and I! isiarranged to receive the can? which is'of lessheightfthan'thecan I. The flap l 3is arcuately shaped' and engages" the"inner portion of flange 'orchime '23at the 'bottom'of the can in the same manner that the flaps ['4' and H engage the? flanges "of can -"I. In order to keep the top"'vva1l panel '2 parallel to the bottom wall panel [.0 and stillha've a "can=retaining flap 24 engagethe flange or chime25 onthe upper-edgeof the can 3, the flap 24' is "hinged to' 'an intermediate fiap'it'along the fold line 21. The outer edge of flap-24- is also shapedarcuately-to 'conform to "the flange of oan 8. The intermediate- 3 flap 26 is hinged to the end of top wall panel 2 along the fold line 28.

A pair of reinforcing flaps 29 and 30 are hinged to corresponding upper edges of side wall panels 3 and 4 along fold lines 3! and 32, respectively, so as to fold inside and adjacent to th intermediate flap 26 when the latter is folded along its fold line 28. The flap 24 is provided with a pair of tabs 33 and 34 foldable along lines 35 and 36, respectively, so that the edge 31 of tab 33 abuts the inner surface of flap 29, and the corresponding edge 38 of tab 34 abuts the inner surface of flap so when the flap 24 is in position to engage the inner portion of flange or chime 25. The edge 39 of flap 29 which is adjacent the fold line 21 is recessed, as indicated at 40, and the corresponding edge 4| of flap 3!! is similarly recessed, as indicated at 42, so that when flap 214 is folded along fold line 21 it will be substantially flush with the edges 39 and 4| of the reinforcing flaps 29 and 30. This arrangement provides a firm support for the top of the can 8, and the intermediate flap 26, together with the reinforcing flaps 29 and 30, which are held in juxtaposed relation by tabs 33 and 34, form a rigid support strong enough to support the weight of superimposed objects without collapse. This enables a plurality of units comprising cans held in the can holder of the present invention to be stacked one upon another in neat rows on the shelf of the dealer.

A fold line 43 is formed medially of the top portion of the can holder and extends from the outer edge of flap IT to the outer edge of flap 24. A corresponding fold line 44 is provided on the bottom extending from the outer edge of flap l3 to the outer edge of flap l4. llhe fold lines 43 and M permit the can holder to be folded fiat, as shown in Fig. 7, after the glue flap ll has been adhered to the free edge of side wall panel 3, so that the holders can be shipped in flat condition. When the can holders are dimensioned for use with cans of the same diameter although of different height the fold lines 43 and 44 are not necessary because the fold lines 5, 6, 9 and l2 are then parallel to each other, and the can holders may be folded fiat along these fold lines.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive, reference being bad to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A can holder for a row of cans, said row including at least two cans of different heights at its ends, comprising top and bottom wall panels connected by a pair of side wall panels, means integral with the bottom wall panel foldable to engage the inner portions of the chimes of each of the said end cans positioned in the can holder, means integral with the top wall panel at one end and foldable to engage the inner portion of the top chime of the taller of said end cans, an end wall forming flap extending downwardly from and hinged to the other end of the top wall panel, the vertical extent of said end wall forming flap being substantially equal to the difference in height between said two cans of different height, and a can retainer flap hinged to the end wall forming flap and engageable with the inner portion of the top chime of the shorter of said end cans, the last mentioned flap being positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel.

2. A can holder for a row of cans, said row including at least two cans of different heights at its ends, comprising top and bottom wall panels connected by a pair of side wall panels, a flap integral with the bottom wall panel at each end thereof and foldable to engage the inner portions of the chimes of said end cans respectively when the latter are positioned in the can holder, a fiap integral with the top wall panel at one end and foldable to engage the inner portion of the top chime of the taller of said end cans, an end wall forming flap extending vertically downwardly fromand hinged to the other end of the top wall panel, and a can retainer flap hinged to the end wall forming flap and foldable inwardly of the holder and engageable with the inner portion of the top chime of the shorter of said end cans, the last mentioned flap being positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel, and a fold line extending medially of the side edges of said top and bottom wall panels and said end wall flaps, said holder being symmetrical with respect to said fold line.

3. A can holder for cans differing in height and diameter comprising a top wall panel wider at one end than at the other, a bottom wall panel having the same configuration as the top wall panel and oriented therewith, a pair of side wall panels connecting corresponding edges of the top and bottom wall panels together, flaps extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall panel and each foldable inwardly thereover to engage the inner portion of a can end flange adjacent to the bottom of a-can positioned in the can holder, a flap extending from one end of the top wall panel and foldable inwardly thereunder engage the inner portion of a can end flange adjacent to the top of one of said cans, an end wall forming flap hinged to and extending downwardly from the opposite end of the top wall panel, said end wall i forming flap having its lower edge terminating in predetermined spacing above said bottom wall panel, and a can flange engaging flap hinged to the lower edge of said end wall forming flap, the last mentioned flange engaging flap being foldable inwardly under said top wall panel to engage the can flange in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel, and a flap attached to an upper portion of one of said side walls adjacent to said end wall forming flap and extending inwardly thereof and parallel thereto above the last said flange engaging flap.

4. A can holder for cans differing in height and diameter comprising a top wall panel wider at one end than at the other, a bottom wall panel having the same configuration as the top wall panel and oriented therewith, a pair of side wall panels connecting corresponding edges of the top and bottom wall panels together, flaps extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall panel and each foldable inwardly thereover to engage the inner portion of a flange adjacent to the bottom of a can positioned in the can holder, a flap extending from one end'of the top wall panel and foldable inwardly thereunder to engage the inner portion of a can end flange adjacent to the top of one of said cans, an intermediate flap extending from and hinged to the opposite end of the top wall panel and foldable downwardly therefrom, said intermediate flap having a dimension measured in the direction of its extent from the top wall end of less than the vertical height between said top and bottom wall panels, another flap foldable inwardly between said top and bottom wall panels and engageable with the inner portion of a flange adjacent to the top of said other can, the last mentioned flap being hinged to the intermediate flap in spaced relation to said top wall panel, whereby, when said intermediate flap is folded down and the last said flap is folded inwardly to engage the can flange, said last mentioned flap is positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel and the fold line extending medially through the last mentioned flap, the top wall panel and the flaps extending from opposite ends thereof, and another fold line extending medially through the bottom wall panel and the flaps extending from opposite ends thereof, whereby the can holder may be folded flat for shipping purposes.

5. A can holder adapted to hold cans of different heights comprising top and bottom wall panels connected by a pair of side wall panels, flaps extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall panel and each foldable inwardly thereover to engage the inner portion of a can end flange adjacent to the bottom of a can positioned in the can holder, a flap extending from one end of the top wall panel and foldable inwardly thereunder to engage the inner portion of a flange adjacent to the top of one of said cans, an intermediate flap extending from and hinged to the opposite end of the top wall panel and foldable downwardly therefrom, said intermediate flap having a dimension measured in the direction of its extent from the top wall end of less than the vertical height between said top and bottom wall panels, another flap foldable inwardly between said top and bottom wall panels and engageable with the inner portion of a flange adjacent to the top of said other can, the last mentioned flap being hinged to the said intermediate flap, whereby, when said intermediate flap is folded down and the last said flap is folded inwardly to engage the can flange, said last mentioned flap is positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel, and reenforcing flaps extending from corresponding upper edge portions of the side wall panels adjacent to said intermediate flap and foldable inwardly into juxtaposition with the said intermediate flap.

6. A can holder adapted to hold cans of different heights comprising top and bottom wall panels connected by a pair of side wall panels, flaps extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall panel and each foldable inwardly thereover to engage the inner portion of a can flange adjacent to the bottom of a can positioned in the can holder, a flap extending from one end of the top wall panel and foldable inwardly thereunder to engage the inner portion of a can flange adjacent the top of one of said cans, an intermediate flap extending from the opposite end of the top wall panel and hinged thereto, another flap engageable with the inner portion of a flange adjacent the top of said other can, the last mentioned flap being hinged to the intermediate flap along an axis substantially parallel to and spaced from the hinge axis of said intermediate flap and foldable inwardly between said top and bottom wall panels, whereby the last mentioned flap, when folded inwardly to engage the can flange, is positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel and above the bottom wall panel, a reenforcing flap extending from an upper portion of an end edge of a side wall panel adjacent to said intermediate flap and foldable inwardly across the end of said holder into juxtaposition with the said intermediate flap, and a tab connected with and foldable inwardly from one of the sides of the said last mentioned flap for engagement with the inner surface of the said reenforcing flap to hold it in juxtaposition with respect to the said intermediate flap.

7. A can holder adapted to hold cans of different heights comprising top and bottom wall panels connected by a pair of side wall panels, flaps extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall panel and each foldable inwardly thereover to engage the inner portion of a can flange adjacent to the bottom of a can positioned in the can holder, a flap extending from one end of the top wall panel and foldable inwardly thereunder to engage the inner portion of a can flange adjacent the top of one of said cans, an intermediate flap extending from the opposite end of the top wall panel and hinged thereto, another flap engageable with the inner portion of a flange adjacent the top of said other can, the

last mentioned flap being hinged to the intermediate flap along an axis substantially parallel to and spaced from the hinge axis of said intermediate flap and foldable inwardly between said top and bottom wall panels, whereby the last mentioned flap, when folded inwardly to engage the can flange, is positioned in a plane substantially lower than the plane of the top wall panel and above the bottom wall panel, reenforcing flaps extending from corresponding edges of the side wall panels and foldable inwardly into juxtaposition with the said intermediate flap, and a pair of tabs connected with and foldable inwardly from opposite sides of the said last mentioned flap for engagement with the inner surface of the one of said reenforcing flaps to hold it in juxtaposition with respect to the said intermediate flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,888,855 Fuller Nov. 22, 1932: 2,460,108 Smith et al Jan. 25, 1949 2,523,985 Foster Sept. 26, 1950 2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 1951 2,571,833 Chidsey, Jr. Oct. 16, 1951 

